Hays Man Admits Distributing Meth on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS — A disturbing trend on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has come to light, as a 64-year-old man from Hays, Montana, admitted to distributing methamphetamine from a yellow school bus he used as his residence.

Lyle Gilbert Snow, Sr., 64, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth, a charge that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and at least three years of supervised release.

The crime was allegedly committed in April 2022, and subsequent investigations led to a series of controlled purchases of meth from Snow. In June 2023, law enforcement served a federal search warrant on the yellow school bus and recovered a loaded .270-caliber rifle, ammunition, and a flip phone, which contained messages indicating drug trafficking.

Snow was pulled over after driving off the highway and onto his driveway when he saw law enforcement. He was found to be driving with a suspended license and was in possession of $1,537 in cash, including $20 bills identified as having been used in a controlled buy.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Myers prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris will determine Snow’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for July 31, and Snow will remain detained pending further proceedings.

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